Pressure-operated dispensing nozzle for collapsible tubes



May 151951 2,552,715

T. F. GRAY ET AL PRESSURE-OPERATED DISPENSING NOZZLE FOR COLLAPSIBLE TUBES 1 Filed July 17, 1947 GDQ 61361/ Patented May 15, i951 PRESSURE-OPERATED DISPENSING NOZZLE FOR COLLAPSIBLE TUBES Tom Frederick Gray and Kenneth Victor Gray,

Salford, England Application July 17, 1947, Serial No. 761,600 In Great Britain September 25, 1946 This invention relates to collapsible tubes such as are used for holding and delivering liquid and paste materials, such as tooth paste, and is concerned more particularly with the extrusion aperture and the means for its closure when any extrusion operation is completed. At present the tube is provided with an orifice of any desired shape in the neck portion and a cap is threaded on to the neck when delivery of liquid or paste ceases.

The object of the present invention is to provide an improved arrangement of extrusion orifice which obviates the employment of a cap and which automatically cuts on the flow of the liquid or paste when the extrusion pressure. ceases.

In accordance with our invention, we provide a rubber or like resilient cover adapted to fit on or in the neck of the tube and having a plain clean cut slit which is forced open by the conents of the tube which squeeze through the slit when pressure is applied to the tube and so to its contents, the slit closing again when the pressure is released due to the strength and resiliency of the material of the cover. The strength and resiliency of the rubber or like material of the cover ensure that whilst pressure applied to the tube will cause the tube contents to open the slit so that it forms a deliver orifice through which such contents are delivered, withdrawal of such pressure from the tube will allow the said rubber or like material to close the orifice in the cover and cut off delivery automatically. The strength of the rubber or like material of the cover is also such that accidental or light pressure upon the tube Will not cause delivery through the slit.

The invention further comprises a rubber or like resilient cover having a cylindrical part adapted to fit on or in the neck of the tube, and a domed part with a plain clean cut slit adapted to be forced open by the tube contents so that the latter squeeze through the slit when pressure is applied to the tube, and to close again when the pressure is released.

The invention further comprises a resilient cover in Which the cylindrical part is flared at the end remote from the domed part, to fit inside the end of a collapsible tube. For convenience of transport and storage the slit may be covered from within by a disc of imperforate material or from outside by an adhesive strip or the like, so preventing undesired delivery, such internal or external disc or strip being removed, when extrusion is required.

1 Claim. (Cl. 222 490) a Figure 2 is a section on the line 2-2 in Figure 1.

a Figure 3 is a plan View. Figure 4 shows a modified construction, in section, fixed in the neck of a tube.

Figure 5 shows the manner in which the device is used.

Referring to Figures 1-3, the closure cover has a cylindrical part a adapted to fit over the neck of a collapsible tube, a domed part b and a con-V,

ical part 0 connecting the domed part b to the cylindrical part a. In the domed part b there is a cut d extending to within a short distance of each side.

The strength of the rubber or like material of which the cover is made is such that the cut it normally remains closed, but when pressure is applied to the tube, it causes compression of the liquid or paste therein which results in the sides of the out being forced apart so that the liquid or paste emerges as shown in Figure 5. When the pressure on the tube is released, the sides of the out come together due to the strength and resilience of the material of the cap and cut off the flow of liquid or paste.

The construction shown in Figure 4 is intended for use with a collapsible tube in which the usual neck is dispensed with. The cylindrical part a has at the end opposite to the domed part b, a flared part e which fits inside the end of the tube bearing against the shoulder 7 thereof, with the part a projecting through the opening of the tube. Pressure applied to the tube causes the part c to seat firmly on the shoulder J 01 the tube, so that the paste will flow into the domed part b and will not leak out around the flared part e. The cover may further be cemented into the tube.

The shape of the cover as shown in the drawing has the advantage that paste entering the enlarged part of the cover formed by the conical part c and the domed part b exerts a lateral pressure, which tends to prevent gaping at the cut d and ensures that the paste will emerge in the form of a very thin ribbon.

It is clearly seen, therefore, that the present.

invention provides a dispensing nozzle for cooperation with a collapsible tube, the nozzle comprising a resilient body of uniform wall thickness and including a cylindrical portion a attachable to the end of :acollapsible tube and constituting a neck for said tube. An extension on the outer end of the neck is provided that defines in cross section a first angular portion c having a length less than the length of the cylindrical portion a and a' permanently domed portion b as an out ward continuation of said angular portion. As seen in Figurer2, the arc of curvature of the domed portion is less than the curvature of a hemisphere and the inner wall of the domed portion defines together with the inner surface of the angular portion a volumetric capacity ofa length of the cylindrical portion corresponding to the longitudinal distance between the juncture of the angular portion with the cylindrical portion and the inner central apex of the domed portion. Further as shown, the domed portion has a sharply defined slot therein terminating in end surfaces parallel with the inner faces of the angular portion lying in the same transverse plane as the end surfaces of the slot and the length or extent of the slot is greater than a diameter of the cylindrical portion the arrangement being such that as material is expressed from a collapsible tube with which the nozzle is associated the resiliency of the nozzle in cooperation with the uniform wall thickness and the juncture of the angular portion with the cylindrical portion establishes a hinging action at such juncture so that the slot opens due to the pressure of the material being expressed and upon cessation of expressing pressure the resiliency of the material and the hinging action results in the closing of the slot.

What we claim is A dispensing nozzle for cooperation with a collapsible tube comprising a resilient body of uniform wall thickness including a cylindrical portion attachable to the end of a collapsible tube and constituting a neck, an extension on the outer end of the neck defining in cross section a first angular portion having a length less than the length of the cylindrical portion and a permanently domed portion as an outward continuation of said angular portion, the :arc Of curvature of the domed portion being less than the curvature of a hemisphere and the inner wall of the domed portion providing together with the inner surface of the angular portion a volumetric capacity greater than the volumetric capacity of a length of the cylindrical portion corresponding to the longitudinal distance between the juncture of the angular portion with the cylindrical portion and the inner central apex of the domed portion, and the domed portion having a sharply defined slot therein and the length of the slot being greater than the diameter of the cylindrical portion whereby as material is expressed from a collapsible tube the resiliency of the nozzle in cooperation with the uniform wall thickness and the "juncture of the angular portion with the cylindrical portion establishes a hinging action at 1 such juncture so that the slot opens due to pressure of material being expressed and upon cessationof expressing pressure the resiliency of the material and the hinging action results in the. closing of the slot.

TOM FREDERICK GRAY. KENNETH VICTOR GRAY;

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,650,967 Smith Nov. 29, 1927 1,658,233 Falk Feb. '7, 1928 1,859,382 Cruze May 24, 1932 2,107,100 Beyer Feb. 1, 1938 

